At the same time there’s a new Senate poll—use the word “new” loosely—that finds Shane Osborn still ahead but not home free.

All this fueling speculation that national groups sitting outside the ring—Osborn is backed by the GOP establishment, Ben Sasse favored by some of the Tea Party types (he just picked up Sarah Palin’s endorsement)—will let the negative TV ads fly sooner than later.

As for that poll which has just now surfaced—it was taken nearly two weeks ago between Feb. 25-28—it finds Osborn leading Sasse by 11 points but with 30 percent undecided.

The poll also surveyed 600 voters, only 400 of whom identified themselves as Republicans.

While you try to figure out what that means to the poll’s credibility know this.

Osborn: 35%Sasse: 24%Dinsdale: 9%McLeay: 2%Undecided: 30%

If Osborn, Sasse, Sid Dinsdale and Bart McLeay don’t want to get their hands dirty in this race expect someone else will.